Ron Rivera Calls For New Attitude From Commanders After Acquiring Carson Wentz: “We Should Be Ascending”

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera hopes to work his 3rd season magic on new quarterback Carson Wentz. Rivera enters his third year in Washington and has a recognized quarterback ahead of the upcoming season. The Commanders’ head coach will be put under a new kind of pressure by the franchise hierarchy as they look for a defining statement season.

Rivera was able to breakthrough in his 3rd year with the Carolina Panthers organization and will look to do the same in Washington. Ahead of the 2022 NFL campaign, while talking about pressure, Rivera states, “I do feel it. This is the year that says, ‘We’re going to ascend.’ And we should be ascending.” The fighting words from the head coach are not without results, as they did win the NFC East during his first season in charge.

While he considers the first season an anomaly, the third season will once again be his litmus test for his regime. While they haven’t finished with a winning record since 2016, the job is on for Rivera to lead a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2005 season. The recruitment of Wentz, a No.2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, does provide Rivera with the QB he was searching for this offseason.

Ron Rivera and Carson Wentz need to win now

While Wentz is a high-risk signing, the Commanders’ head coach views him as an upgrade with his NFL future on the QB’s shoulders. While he plays down talks of added pressure, Wentz is a legitimate QB option following the departure of Kirk Cousins after the 2017 campaign. They have had an array of QBs in recent seasons, and Wentz could be the player to break them from their slumber and help them towards a playoffs spot.

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The last five seasons have seen Wentz own the 12th-ranked QBR of 60.4 while ranking 8th in total touchdown passes (124). His ability to throw the ball effectively to every area of the field, especially on slants and crosses has raised expectations of the coaching staff.

The Commanders‘ offense will also see Wentz throw his passes to underrated WR Terry McLaurin and run the football with RB Antonio Gibson.

They will also be banking on their defensive prowess with players like Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, and Daron Payne. The challenge will be to finally turn untapped potential into realistic contention amidst the renewed hope within the organization. Rivera knows what it takes to win football games and will be galvanizing his troops for a crucial 2022 NFL campaign.

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